Chapter 21: Peddler

Knock knock.

Knock knock knock!

“Sang Shen, Sang Shen~! Up yet—? Sang Shen!”

“Ugh… uhh…”

Lying on the floor, Sang Shen struggled to open his eyes, shielding them with his arm from the glaring sunlight slanting through the window.

The wall clock’s hour hand pointed to ‘7,’ but the light was so bright it felt like noon.

“Sang—Shen—”

The muffled voice grew clear, followed by another round of knocking.

“Ha… yawn…”

He stared at the mosquito net, feeling like a leftover dish under a cover—probably a salted fish.

After a few seconds of struggle, he bolted upright, flung the net aside, and slipped into knee-length casual pants nearby.

Opening the door, the dazzling sunlight stung his eyes, making him feel like a vampire melting under its rays.

Leaning on the corridor’s brick wall, he looked down to see Lin Qing in a gray long skirt, bouncing excitedly and waving.

“You’re up!”

“Yeah, this early?”

“Guess what day it is?”

“What day? A holiday?”

“Nope, what day of the week?”

“Uh… Thursday? What’s special about Thursday?”

“The peddler comes every Thursday! And Sunday!”

“Fire wolf? What’s that, some fantasy beast?” (TN: Peddler sounds similar to Fire wolf in Chinese)

“…Beast?”

Lin Qing blinked, confused.

“Oh… so what is it?”

“The peddler, silly! The traveling merchant!”

“Ohh, that peddler…”

Sang Shen shook his head.

“Like the ones selling malt candy?”

“Not just that! Today’s peddler drives a van—tons of stuff, like a mobile supermarket, and cheap! If you miss it, you’ll wait till Sunday, and sometimes he doesn’t even come then!”

“He here yet?”

“Not yet, that’s why I came early to get you guys! Bring Yin Xing to check it out?”

“A peddler with a van… I don’t think I ever noticed that before…”

Sang Shen yawned.

“Maybe in my timeline, van peddlers didn’t exist…”

“I’ll wait downstairs~!”

Lin Qing bounced again, her energy boundless.

“Alright, I’ll call Yin Xing, wash up, then head out. Wanna come in?”

“Nah, I’ll hang around nearby. Call me when you’re ready!”

“Got it…”

Sang Shen rubbed his eyes, legs unmoving.

Still half-asleep, the warm breeze nearly lulled him back to sleep.

His body felt weak.

Probably from doing it too often.

Five times now, including yesterday.

“No way, gotta control it. Keep this up, my body’ll collapse.”

Sang Shen slapped his cheeks.

“Sang Shen, don’t fall apart. Already eating so little, no nutrition…”

He looked down, yawning hugely.

“You’re way too lively. I’m exhausted… Alright, wash up… oh, gotta wake Yin Xing first.”

Yin Xing’s room was next to his, separated by a bathroom. He knocked lightly on her door.

“Yin Xing? Awake?”

As expected, no sound from inside.

“I’m coming in, okay?”

He muttered, turning the knob.

Unlocked.

He pushed the door open, poking his head in.

A flood of bare skin filled his vision.

“Whoa!! Why’re you standing naked by the wardrobe?!”

He slammed the door shut with a bang.

Rustling came from inside.

Then Yin Xing, in her school uniform, opened the door and stepped out.

“Why no jacket? You’re… showing! Short-sleeve uniform’s not enough!”

He hurriedly pushed her back inside.

“Too hot.”

“It’s fine in the morning…”

“Gets hot outside.”

“Wear it anyway… people will talk, and villagers love gossip…”

“…”

Silence was her reply. When she opened the door again, she’d reluctantly put on a jacket.

“Phew… were you changing just now? Last night… you slept without clothes?”

He couldn’t help asking quietly.

“…Took them off.”

“Huh??”

“Trying to adjust.”

“…That’s tough.”

“…First time seeing a girl’s body naked in real life.”

“Never seen one before?”

“…No.”

“What about… her?”

“No.”

“…What kind of love life did future me have?”

“Just thought holding back proved my love.”

“But it only moved myself.”

“You’re right.”

“Was I too blunt…?”

“It’s fine.”

“Oh, let’s wash up and see the peddler. Lin Qing says he comes in a van—rare for the countryside.”

“…Don’t remember that.”

“Me neither.”

Sang Shen smiled.

“Maybe this time’s got lots of differences from our memories?”

Yin Xing frowned slightly, worried.

“You’re getting closer to her.”

“Oh… just, she seems…”

“It’s just a mask.”

“No worries, if she drops it, I’ll steer clear.”

“…Okay.”

Yin Xing looked into his eyes, nodding lightly.

“Don’t fall for it.”

“So, to keep me from traps, I need you with me to warn me, right?”

“…You better listen.”

“Absolutely, absolutely!”

***

“Qing Qing—”

Sang Shen took a narrow path through weeds to the stream, spotting Lin Qing playing barefoot by the bank.

“Here you are! Couldn’t find you near the house.”

“Hehe, didn’t go far! Bike’s up there!”

Lin Qing glanced up at Yin Xing, who stayed put, and lowered her voice.

“She’s actually coming out today?”

“Ahem, I told her to stick with me so you don’t trick me.”

“Ohh, I get it.”

Lin Qing gave a thumbs-up.

“Smart! First time you’ve thought of that!”

Sang Shen’s face fell.

“Is that a compliment or a dig?”

“Progress is good!”

She winked playfully.

“Just a hunch, but… she seems in better shape than in past cycles.”

“Huh?”

“Even at her best, she was about like this. But this cycle’s just started!”

“So… good chance this time?”

“Yup!”

“…Sang Shen.”

Yin Xing, up above, finally called out softly.

“Oh, ahem, coming!”

Sang Shen patted Lin Qing’s shoulder.

“Alright, stop playing. Take us to the peddler!”

“Got it! Should be there by now~! His business is hot—fastest time, sold out in half an hour.”

“That quick?”

“Usually two or three hours?”

“Still fast. I’ve never seen a peddler sell out in one village…”

“Probably why he’s got a van—can hit more places.”

“And carry more stuff…”

Lin Qing’s gaze shifted to Yin Xing, waving eagerly.

“Xiao Xing~! Riding my bike today?”

“…No.”

Yin Xing looked away.

“Sang Shen has one.”

“Ahem, but we didn’t bring it. Go back for it?”

“…Let’s walk.”

“Walk it is, not far! Out this path, follow the main road—see that old locust tree across the river? He usually sets up there! When no one’s buying, he moves deeper, but only as far as the lake.”

“So not to your doorstep.”

“Yup, barely any houses there. Driving in’s a waste of gas, right?”

“True…”

***

The riverbank looked close, but the detour took seven or eight minutes.

Lin Qing rode her bike wobbily ahead, glancing back to check if they followed.

Yin Xing kept her head down, watching the path.

Sang Shen snapped a photo of her walking with his phone.

“Battery’s full… oh, you charged it last night?”

“…No.”

“Then how’s it full? Solar-powered?”

“Maybe Xiao Xing’s dreams charge it!”

“Runs on her dreams, huh…”

Sang Shen’s mouth twitched.

Yin Xing frowned slightly at Lin Qing’s overly familiar nickname.

“Sang Shen, take one of me too?”

“Sure.”

Click.

Lin Qing’s scissor-hand pose was captured.

Then Sang Shen turned the lens, snapping Yin Xing, who looked sulky with her furrowed brow.

“…Why keep shooting me?”

“‘Cause you’re pretty.”

“…Shoot some scenery.”

Yin Xing shook her head.

“You’re part of the scenery.”

“Yup, green hair’s gorgeous! I want colorful hair too—”

Lin Qing laughed, stopping her bike, then yelped as she lost balance. Before Sang Shen could catch her, she steadied herself with her foot.

“Phew, close!”

“Don’t do risky moves!”

“Hehe, I’m pro at this!”

“…Pros don’t almost fall.”

“Didn’t fall, though.”

“Almost did.”

“But I didn’t~ Oh, Sang Shen, if you dyed your hair, what color?”

“No dye, black’s fine.”

He scratched his short hair.

“Boo~”

“What about you?”

“Hmm—gold?”

“Like the sun? Suits you.”

“Right~?”